ARCHIVED - Tips for Handling Dental Emergencies Abroad

Even if you take precautions before you leave the country, there is no guarantee that you will avoid a dental emergency when travelling abroad. If you do experience this kind of emergency far from home, here are some suggested actions.

Find a Dental Professional

Consult the Canadian Embassy, Consulate or High Commission for a recommendation of a dental clinic. Information is available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Web site.

To facilitate clear communication of the dental problem and treatment, as well as questions about infection control practices and after-care considerations, try to find a dental professional proficient in a language you are comfortable speaking.

Check for Proper Infection Control Practices in the Dental Office

Look for a combination of the following safety practices:

Safe Dental Instruments

• Any instrument used for surgery, including tooth extraction, must be heat sterilized and should be stored in a sterile wrap or container until it is used;
• After use, an instrument must either be disposed of or heat-sterilized again;
  • Heat-sterilizing instruments in an autoclave or dry-heat sterilizer kills all potential disease-causing agents that might remain after the instrument is used.
• Items that are used only outside the mouth, or that never contact blood, must still be cleaned, but can be cleaned and then wiped or soaked in less powerful disinfectant chemicals; and
• Water that is unsafe to drink is also unfit for dental treatment;
  • In areas that lack potable water, dental professionals can use bottled water delivered using a bulb syringe to operation instruments that need water to function, such as high-speed dental drills. Boiled water is considered acceptable, although bottled sterile water is preferred for surgery.

Protective Gear

Practising standard precautions means that dental professionals and staff should wear a new pair of rubber or vinyl gloves for each patient, and also wear face masks and protective eyewear for all procedures that generate spatter or splash;

Gloves:

• Are especially important for protecting both patients and healthcare workers from disease transmission;
• Should be changed for every new patient by the dental professional and all assistants involved in treatment;
• Should never be washed and reused as this degrades the material and reduces its ability to provide an effective barrier.

Proper Hygiene

• Hand washing is the single most important element in preventing the spread of infection;
• Dental professionals and staff should always wash their hands immediately before putting on gloves and immediately after removing them.

Disposable Needles

• Re-using injection needles poses a high risk of spreading of infections;
• Unfortunately, because disposable needles are more expensive, re-usable needles may still be in use in some developing countries.

Take Precautions with Medications

Not all countries have laws to protect people against potentially harmful medications, and if the country does have these kinds of laws, the laws are not always enforced.

Do not buy medications "over the counter" unless you're familiar with the product and have been advised to do so by a health care professional.

Created with permission from The Organization for Safety and Asepsis Procedures (OSAP)